Baron Zen

During his time as an undergraduate at San Jose State University in the late 1980s, Sweet Steve launched the project known as Baron Zen. Although the lineup formally listed Craig Appleby handling keys and drum programming, with occasional guitar contributions from John Caampued and drum programming from longtime associate Chris Manak (Peanut Butter Wolf), nearly every track was recorded by Steve alone on every instrument. The group never staged concerts, issued any releases, or received notable attention beyond scattered spins on Bay Area college radio, and the entire run of sessions stretched only from 1988 to 1992 before Steve graduated and stepped away from music into full-time employment. More than a decade later, Peanut Butter Wolf, by then founder of Stones Throw Records, chose to compile and issue the material, which fused punk, disco, rock, and hip-hop, under the title At the Mall; the 2006 album prompted a handful of rare live appearances by Baron Zen.